Therapists Treating Addicts in WoW
What's the best way to treat MMORPG addicts? By approaching them through the virtual worlds.
A consultant psychiatrist at the Tavistock Center in London is planning to provide online therapy for gamers addicted to MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft, EverQuest 2, and other popular games. Dr. Richard Graham, concerned over the growing problem, told The Daily Telegraph that some players were so addicted, that they neglect their social lives and education by playing for up to sixteen hours a day. Many experts claim that MMORPGs are more addictive than crack cocaine.
To back his planned virtual therapy, Graham approached Blizzard Entertainment to waive or discount the costs associated with joining the subscription-based game. According to Graham, this would make it easier for therapists to communicate with the "at-risk players in their preferred environment" rather than addressing problems the conventional way.
"We will be launching this project by the end of the year," he said. "I think it’s already clear that psychiatrists will have to stay within the parameters of the game. They certainly wouldn't be wandering around the game in white coats and would have to use the same characters available to other players."
Graham noted that the drawback to therapy within World of Warcraft would be that therapists are not experienced in virtual existence. "We may have to work at that if we are going to get through to those who play this game for hours at end," he added.
- Analyst: Microsoft Should Abandon Zune
- Special Glasses Forces Gamers to Blink
- Atari Founder Returns to Development
- Demand for Nintendo Wii is Slowing Down
- Law Proposed to Ban Texting While Driving
- THQ: Project Natal Late Next Year
- Government Suggested to Regulate P2P
- PSPgo Scores Early Lackluster Review
- Hackers to Reveal iPhone Security Hole Thursday
- These are the 85 Songs in Guitar Hero 5
- Carmack: Rage PS3 Lagging Behind Xbox 360, PC
- Official Shots of LG's 'New Chocolate' BL40
- Student Sues Amazon: Kindle Ate Homework
- PlayStation 3 Manufacturing Costs Down 70%
- iPhone SMS Security Hole is Real, Scary
- Nintendo's Black Wii for $334
- Valve Responds to L4D2 Racism Accusations
- FCC: A Real Problem With Apple's App Store
- RadioShack Re-branding Itself as 'The Shack'
That plan is so full of holes, I bet it's a new mmo
I need this for first person shooters.
Ok, so what happens when the therapists get addicted? then they are all screwed when the shrink is like "hey dude, you gonna be on WoW tonight?"
Once you go WarCrack, you can't go back. IMO The psychiatrists are going to get sucked into the virtual vortex of doom and die a death of snack foods and eye strain. I was addicted to Runescape way back when, just quit and find something better to do with your life.
It's the stats tracking that does it, it goes the same for games like BF2142, and COD4/5 (until you get everything, then it's boring) but MMO's have no such thing as "beating the game" so you keep going and going and going. That's how they make so much money and get people addicted, which means more money.
This is like saying. Ok, I'll try and treat you for your coke addiction only when you are snorting because it's in your "preferred environment." I think the priority should be getting them to stop, I don't see how meeting them in-game to chat accomplishes that.
i can see it now.... therapists setting out to help treat gaming addiction are now addicted to the games....lmao
this is just as bad as holding an AA class in a bar.
There is no way Blizzard is going to let some smart-ass know it all take away their cheese parade(pure income).. LOL comon!
This is like saying. Ok, I'll try and treat you for your coke addiction only when you are snorting because it's in your "preferred environment." I think the priority should be getting them to stop, I don't see how meeting them in-game to chat accomplishes that.
+1. But I do think that you need to first find them. Blizzard should give public awards for people who play too much, which would allow the "psych-squad guild" public knowledge of the true addicts. What better way to find the crack addicts in need than following around the dealer? It would practically become a new game just to avoid them!
cool idea, good thing there isn't some kind of in-game blocking...o wait..... well i am sure that they will be more than willing to talk....o wait.... well these guys are smart....o wait....
"this is just as bad as holding an AA class in a bar."
not quite this is a psychological addiction compared to a one with a physically dependency attached to it
different playing fields
Level 70 therapist!
I am socializing r-tard. Im logged onto an MMORPG with people from all over the world and getting XP with my party, using teamspeak
I just don't get it, WoW is so lame, i can't understand how any one would pay money to play that game let alone become hopelessly addicted to it. Im sure this whole online therapy thing is just for show anyways, how much can they actually help these people when there still playing the game. I don't think blizzard gives 2 sh*ts about addiicted players, they are probably happy people have decided to give up there real lives for there virtual pay service reality.
I betcha that in a few months Blizzard is going to try and ban them.
I thought it was "The rapists" for a second, but it was "Therapists"
lol; its not too bad neglect your social life but not your edecation and and exercise thats where it hits you hard men
LoL @ apache_lives & aspireonelover
"Mom I really really really NEED to logon to WoW. I have a 2 hours session appointment with the rapist.. uh I mean lvl 70 Therapist".. and so the-rapists and the-rapees went on to raid/rape Onyxia's Lair.
Oh and obviously more people will subscribe to WoW coz the therapists stick this note on their door.
"Consultation hours are from 8:00 to 18:00 in Ironforge"
- Signed... Bruugor the Dwarven Therapist -
Entertaining. =D
I personally say WoW is more addicting then coaince. (Specially great private servers.)
It took me a few tries to quit... (went cold turkey one day, though came back a few months later. Then I quit again, and then got addicted to private servers. Eventually I just decided *fuck this* and stopped playing).
Granted, I have the type of personallity that becomes easily addicted to any MMORPG. =D
Atleast they're offering help, in any way possible.
Believe me diablo2 and wow are far more worse addictions than crack, smoke, weed or sekz.
"I will quit next Monday" or
"Let's raid some more until the end of summer and then quit" or
"I'll level this alt then I'll quit" or
"I'll give away my gold and items to friends and then I'll quit in 2 hours"
lies...!
This is how I finally managed it: Just logged out at the moment of decision. Then deleted all files from my hard drive. And then the most important part is remove vent or ts from your computer and break your microphone. If you accidentally talk with a friend or guildie then you'll fail.
Oo come on the therapist is a WoW fan himself and just wants a free account
. Maybe there is something to this haha.
This article would be more accurate if it was dealing with additions to video games in general, not just WoW.
lol reminds me of the southpark episode
Randy Marsh: Stan! Stan!
Stan Marsh: Hang on guys, my dad wants something.
Randy Marsh: Stan!
Stan Marsh: What?
Stan Marsh: You've been on your computer all weekend. Shouldn't you go out and socialize with your friends?
Stan Marsh: I am socializing r-tard! I'm logged on to an MMORPG, with people from all over the world and getting XP with my party using teamspeak.
[pause]
Randy Marsh: [hurt] I'm not an r-tard.
"Graham approached Blizzard Entertainment to waive or discount the costs associated with joining the subscription-based game"
How much does WoW POSSIBLY cost, $20 a month? I know what therapists and especially psychiatrists charge for a 40-minute session. They can spring for their own $20 account if they intend to mine WoW for new clients... geez.
+1. But I do think that you need to first find them. Blizzard should give public awards for people who play too much, which would allow the "psych-squad guild" public knowledge of the true addicts. What better way to find the crack addicts in need than following around the dealer? It would practically become a new game just to avoid them!
Blizzard already does this, its called the achievement system
Just look for the server first achievements, pretty safe to say those are good candidates for therapy lol.
Also I don't think the good doctor understands how much WoW actually costs. Maybe he thinks he needs a subscription for each server he's on or something? If he can't afford $15 a month, then he must not be very good at his job.
We need that guy from the WOW Southpark Eposide to hunt the shrinks down in the no kill areas and take them out, I couldn't stop laughing.
I actually think there is something to this idea. I play WOW and it is a very addicting game. I was just thinking this morning about how I need to quit and that it is ruining my life. I go to work tired every day because I stay up late playing. I've been telling myself I will quit when I hit level 80 (am now level 78) but I think I will just stop cold turkey right now. As for the therapy I too could see the therapists getting addicted if they are not careful. In order to connect with other players they are going to actually have to play otherwise no one is going to listen to some level 1 toon. Everyone will think it is someone trying to sell gold or something and put them on ignore. However, I think it could work. I am a Social Worker in real life and work with Hospice. There was a friend of mine on and she said her Sister was dying. I was able to give her some counseling myself right there online and I think it did help her.
Well at least if you get mad at the therapist in the game you can hack him to pieces. And so more good therapy without real life consequences
I used to be addicted to WoW. The only thing that was able to get me off of it was being too much of a cheapskate to keep paying for it. When your subscription runs out its pretty easy to stay off the juice. Unless you play private servers... in which case you're just SOL.
So what happen if the guy get sick of this therapist and kill him in the game!?
That would be a funny video to watch in youtube.